Limonene

Fruits such as lemon, limes and oranges are prized for their bright citrussy flavour, and nothing says clean like a lemony
fragrance. This property comes from a phytonutrient called limonene which is found in the skins of citrus fruits. Limonene is used
in air fresheners and cleaners, and may also have some important health benefits.

Structure of Limonene

Limonene is a phytonutrient in a class of chemicals called terpenes. Terpenes are hydrocarbons,
meaning they are made up of hydrogen and carbon. They
are produced by a wide variety of plants. Conifers such as pine are a good example. Terpenes are found in their resin. The word
terpene is derived from the word turpentine. Terpenes are made of isoprene units,
which are a combination of 5 carbon atoms and 8 hydrogen atoms. The different types of terpenes are
classified according to how many of these isoprene units they contain.

Limonene is a monoterpene, meaning it has two
isoprene units in its chemical makeup. It is a clear liquid which can come in two different varieties of molecules.
L-limonene, which has a piney smell, and d-limonene, which smells like oranges, are mirror images of each other.

The Health Benefits of Limonene

This is starting to sound like a room freshener, and in fact limonene is used in some solvents and cleaners. However it is also
a phytonutrient that can give you important health benefits.

Limonene is found in the oil of citrus peels, and is a by-product of the orange juice industry. Industrial uses for limonene include cleaning products,
and additives meant to add aroma or flavoring to a product.

Since limonene is collected and used for other products during processing of oranges, there probably isn't much of it left in packaged orange juice.
You can get limonene if you squeeze your own orange juice or make lemonade with fresh lemons. Even better is using grated peels, or zest in your recipes, or
using whole preserved lemons. These delicious lemons preserved in olive oil and salt can be chopped up and added to mediterranean-style dishes. Limonene is
present in a variety of citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes and tangerines.

Most of the medicinal testing has been done on d-limonene. In laboratory studies, it has been shown to induce apoptosis, which is the "death
signal" which kills a cancer cell, or prevents it from dividing. It also increases the levels of enzymes in the liver that can detoxify carcinogens.
In animals limonene has been shown to slow the growth of cancers of the pancreas, stomach, colon,
skin and liver. Unfortunately these results haven't been backed up by human trials, so there isn't any proof that limonene can fight cancer in humans. There
have been studies showing that limonene slowed the growth of breast and colon cancer in humans, but the studies were too small to warrant using this chemical
as an anti-cancer treatment.

Some other medical uses for limonene are to treat gallstones, as it can act as a solvent to break up cholesterol in the stones, and to neutralize gastric
acid in cases of heartburn.

Limonene in Your Diet

Is it safe to eat limonene? In human studies people given doses of limonene had nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but didn't have any permanent ill effects.
A more serious effect is skin and respiratory allergies, but this is a danger for people who are using cleaning products or pesticides with limonene. If you
become sensitized to this chemical you can start to have an allergic reaction every time you come in contact with citrus. It's important to avoid contact with
cleaners, solvents and pesticides.

Limonene is used in a pesticide that is applied in people's homes to kill termites. Also, citrus fruits themselves are
often treated with pesticides and you may get the residue in peels when you squeeze or grate
the fruit. You should wash your fruit well if you are using the peel, or buy organic fruits.

Considering the nasty side effects and potential allergic reactions, it's probably not a good idea to run out and buy a supplement of limonene. However eating
some fresh squeezed orange juice or some preserved lemons chopped into a sauce won't hurt you, and may have the beneficial effects of fighting cancer
and heartburn.

The information on this site is not meant to be used in treatment of medical conditions. Please seek the advice of a physician about any medical condition
or symptom. Those with medical conditions should consult a medical professional about the appropriateness of taking dietary supplements or diet therapy,
and how these methods will interact with their medications.